130 PROC. OF THE OKLA.. ACAD. OF SCI.

FOR 1958

Some Relations of the Shape of Quartz Sand

Grains to their Crystallographic Orientation
E. L. LUCAS, University 01 Oklahoma, Norman

Geologists have long known from microscopic study that quartz grains
in both sedimentary and metamorphic rocks show a tendency to be elon-
gated parallel to the c-axis. Many samples of quartz grains were col-
lected for this stUdy and measurements made to observe possible relations
between their shape and differential wear or hardness directions.
Sandstone samples were chosen in which the quartz grains exhibit the
 GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES 131

original crystal forms and also show evidences of appreciable wear. Quartz
grains at this stage of wear were selected mainly because their study does
not require the use of a universal stage. The grains were carefully disag·
gregated, boiled in dilute acid, cleaned and screened. Grain samples most
convenient for study were taken from the 100-mesh screen having passed
the SO-mesh size. Some grains were mounted in Canada balsam and others
were studied in immersion oils in order that any secondary growth could
be seen and dismissed from consideration.
Some sandstones consist of well-worn quartz grains possessing a high
degree of sphericity (Fig. 1). Quartz liberated from granitic rocks by
weathering can be expected to be equidimensional rather than elongate.
in fact this may be the source of the quartz grains in most sandstones.
When such grains have suffered wear through more than one cycle of
fluvial or eolian erosion, their shape may be an outward expression of the
original equidimensional crystals or fragments. If all crystallographic
directions in the grains are equally hard and resistant to abrasion, a near
sphere should be the result.

Fig. 1. Ordinary light, X 55. Quartz sand grains with high degree of
sphericity.

Quartz has been tested for differential hardness in a number of ways.

Sosman (1927) stated that Berndt concluded from experiments that quartz
is more difficult to scratch parallel to the c-ws than in any other direc-
tion. Sosman also stated that Auerbach found the penetration hardness
of quartz to be less in the direction of the c-axis. Gilluly (1937) cited
Berndt that the crushing strength is greatest in the c-axis direction. More-
over, recent experiments have not as yet solved the problem of differential
resistance of quartz to abrasion.
Many of the grains observed in this study are not perfect spheres, but
vary from near spheres to ellipsoidal shapes. Over fifty percent of the
later formed by a.brasion are very possibly the consequence of greater
hardness or resistance to abrasion in the direction of the longer axl8 of
the grains. Since the major axis ~f most of the quartz grains coincides
182 PROC. OF THE OKLA. ACAD. OF SCI. FOR 1958

with the crystallographic c-ax18, it seems probable that rounded clastic

quartz grains are longer and harder in the direction of the optic axis.
Many of the stubby quartz crysta18 reveal initial rounding at the zones of
intersecting priBm, rhombohedral and trapezohedral faces. Wayland (1939)
stated that actual measurements of grains of the Jordan sandstone show
that they are 17.5 percent longer in the direction of the optic axis than
normal thereto. This feature suggests that abrasion begins to develop a
high degree of sphericity on such equant grains in directions not parallel
to the c-axis. Yet, the fact remains that in addition to the effect of the
crystallographic aspects, the original somewhat equidimenslonal nature of
the fragments is the c:hIef factor leading to the ultimate spherical shapes.
Other sandstones consist of greatly-elongated quartz grains which
may have also sutfered mechanical wear during one or more erosion cycles
(Fig. 2). The elongated feature of these grains may have been Inherited
from some vein quartz crystals in which the c-axls was relatively long.
However, one has every reason to expect them to be In the minority in
the average sandstone. Ingerson and Ramlsch (1942) stated that abrasion
tests made by them on oriented quartz prisms reveal that the elongation
of quartz sand grains 18 due to the original shape rather than the result of
fracture and differential erosion during transportation. Their experiments
al80 show that quartz has no pronounced tendency to fracture parallel to
the c-axis. Krynine (1940) has studied quartz grains In sediments from
many places in the world which show appreciable elongation parallel to
the c-axis. He called these grains schistose quartz, meaning that the elon-
gation is due to the original crystal shape of the quartz in the schist. He
concluded that a considerable amount of the quartz in sediments come
either from metamorphic rocks or from re-worked sediments containing
elongated quartz crystals.

Fig. 2. Ordinary light, X 55. Shows elongated quartz sand grains.

A study of elongated quartz grains shown in (Fig. 2) seem to bear

out the idea that the elongated and well-worn grains owe their shape to
the external appearance of the original quartz crystals and fragments.
The rounding due to mechanical wear begins at the base of the rhombohe-
dron zones and continues until all edges and corpers become .round.
 GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES 1SS

CoNCLUSION

The shape of quartz sand grains made round by aprasion whether ex-
hibiting oblong or spherical forms seem to definitely depend upon the ori-
ginal shape of the quartz crystals or fragments. On the other hand, the
tendency for many quartz grains to be longer and harder, in the direction
of the optic axis, lends much support to the idea of unequal wear due to
differential resistance to abrasion. Therefore, it seems reasonable to ex-
pect both factors to be about equally effective in the ultimate rounding of
quartz sand grains.
LITERATURE CITED
Auerbach, F.: Cited by Sosman, R B. 1927. The Properties of silica.
Amer. Chern. Soc. Monograph Series 37: 491.
Berndt, G.: Cited by Sosman, RB. Op. Cit. 495.
Gilluly, James. 1934. Mineral orientation in some rocks of the Ahuswap
Terrane as a clue to their metamorphism. Amer. Jour. of Science 28:
198.
Ingerson, Earl and Ramisch, J. L. 1942. Origin of shapes of quartz grains.
The Amer. Min. 27: 600.
Krynine, P. D. 1940. Petrology and genesis of the third Bradford Sand.
Penn. st. ColI. Bull. 29: 19.
Wayland, ,Russell G. 1939. Optical orientation in elongate clastic quartz.
Amer. Jour. of Science 237: 99.